London,
21
March
2016
|
11:05
Europe/London

Camden’s support for Community festivals

A wide range of festivals and fun in all guises will entertain residents and visitors after Camden Council announced the funding for community festivals for the next twelve months. 

Kilburn's Creativity and Talent event (£2,000), 30FEST (£1,500) and Camden New Town Community Festival (£1,000) were some of the largest beneficiaries out of the 42 community festivals given community grants. 

The grants were awarded by the Council following submissions from organisers and judging by an independent panel supported by Voluntary Action Camden. 

In deciding which groups should benefit from the funding, Camden Voluntary Action based scoring on the applicant’s ability to meet six criteria.

  • Foster greater community cohesion and improve inter-community relationships
  • Demonstrate that the community-led event that is open to the whole of the community
  • Engage local people not currently participating in cultural and community activities in Camden.
  • Demonstrate that the event is being produced in collaboration with other local organisations.
  • Offer opportunities for volunteering and mentoring for Camden residents.
  • Demonstrate that it is a well-managed event and that the organisers have considered the impacts and safety of their festival.

The 42 community festivals will receive financial support from the Council of £35,000. 

Councillor Abdul Hai Cabinet Member for Customers, Communities & Culture said: “We’re delighted to have been able to continue to support a wide range of festivals and events this year.“We know they are well supported by many different areas of the community and have the added benefit of helping to bring the residents and visitors to Camden together.” 

Michael Pountney, Chair of the Queen Square Fair Committee said: “We’ve just had the great news that Camden Council is again giving us £500 towards the cost of our annual Queen Square Fair.

“This year’s Fair, on Saturday 2 July, midday until 5pm, will be our 42nd. It’s firmly established as one of the key events in the local calendar, and with live music, stalls, exhibitions, food and children’s activities it’s always a great day out.

“Camden Council has helped us fund the Fair for many years and without our grant from them we’d be hard put to carry on. So, in these difficult financial times it’s great that the Council is still able to support community events like ours.”

A Friends of Kilburn Grange Park spokesperson said: "We thank Camden Council for giving us an Olive Tree which enabled us to branch out further last year with our very successful 7 Day of Summer aka Kilburn's CAT (Creativity & Talent) events. In other words ' Camden Council has been offering green shoots and we are nurturing them."

Kate Pahl, Albert Street Party organising committee said: “Our annual street party has been fantastic for community cohesion. Working together organising the party and celebrating on the day has made for many intergenerational friendships. And thanks to the party the local residents all know each other. It's more like a country village than an inner London street!”

All of these festivals will also receive a complete waiver of all fees and charges for their event. Other small festivals and street parties run by the community throughout 2016-17 will benefit from a flat fee of £100.

Full details of the organisations which received funding are as follows:

  • 30FEST (Camden Town with Primrose Hill) - £1,500
  • 7th Phoenix Garden Agricultural Show & St Giles Fayre (Holborn & Covent Garden) - £700
  • Albert Street Party (Camden Town with Primrose Hill) - £315
  • Annual Summer Party in Rochester Gardens (Cantelows) - £100
  • BARA Street Party (Cantelows) - £250
  • Bloomsbury Festival 2016 (Bloomsbury) - £2,000
  • Camden Mela (Bloomsbury) - £2,500
  • Camden New Town Community Festival (Cantelows) - £1,000
  • Camley Street Harvest Party 2016 (St Pancras and Somers Town) - £600
  • Celebration of Queen’s 90th Birthday (Swiss Cottage) - £250
  • EGOVRA Annual Street Party (Gospel Oak) - £250
  • Fordwych Green & Recycling Fair (Fortune Green) - £250
  • Hampstead Celebrates Chinese New Year (Hampstead Town) - £300
  • Hampstead Christmas Festival 2016 (Hampstead Town) - £1,000
  • Hampstead Summer Festival 2016 (Hampstead Town) - £2,000
  • Holi 2017 (Swiss Cottage) - £1,000
  • Islamic Mela (Kings Cross) - £500
  • Jester Festival (Fortune Green) - £500
  • Kentish Town Festival (Kentish Town) - £1,500
  • Kilburn's Creativity and Talent event (Kilburn) - £2,000
  • Lady Somerset Road Street Party (Kentish Town) - £600
  • Lark in the Park 2016 (Highgate) - £2,000
  • May Day Celebration (Cantelows ) - £200
  • Newroz (New Year’s) (Haverstock) - £250
  • Peckwater Neighbourhood Festival (Kentish Town) - £750
  • Primrose Hill Summer Fair 2016 (Camden Town & Primrose Hill) - £900
  • Queens 90th Birthday on Lamb's Conduit Street (Holborn & Covent Garden) - £1,000
  • Sidings Community Centre Heritage Fair 2016 (Fortune Green) - £500
  • Somers Town Festival of Culture (St Pancras and Somers Town) - £2,000
  • South End Green Golden Summer Festival (Hampstead Town) - £1,200
  • Steeles Village Winter Festival (Haverstock) - £1,000
  • The African Dance and Music in Camden (Kings Cross) - £200
  • The Alexandra Wylie Tower Foundation Pinking in the Park (Highgate) - £300
  • The Annual Highgate Fair (Highgate) - £1,500
  • The Queen Square Fair Queen Square Fair Management Committee (Holborn & Covent Garden) - £500
  • The York Rise Street Party (Highgate) - £500
  • West Euston Community Festival (Regent's Park) - £500
  • Youth-led Community Festivals; Camden Unity Cup Festival, Fitzrovia Street Party and Community Dinner and Warren Community BBQ programme (Bloomsbury) - £2,000
  • Myriad International Food Event in Camden - £420